Details on the Toyota Sienna Ultimate Utility Vehicle

Franken-Yota Minivan Could Beat Up Your Odyssey

The Toyota Sienna Ultimate Utility Vehicle was barely a footnote in the company’s presentation on its new corporate headquarters near Dallas, Texas. That didn’t seem fair to us at all, so we begged Toyota for some details on the off-road–friendly van, if only just to dream for a day or two more about the family hauler-turned-rockcrawler.

Built on the chassis of the 2015 Tacoma pickup, the Sienna’s custom body transplant includes more than a simple cut-and-weld. Completely unique front and rear bumpers, front fenders, front and rear door skins, and coach-style front doors, combined with motorized rear doors, give the Sienna a totally revised visage, one that wouldn’t look out of place in National Lampoon’s Apocalypse, if such a thing existed.

A 4-inch lift kit with fully fabricated lower control arms and polyurethane bushings suspend 22-inch Monster Energy 534B wheels wrapped in Nitto Mud Grappler 37-inch tires. A Wilwood big-brake upgrade kit and TRD supercharger provide the stop and go, while Heim steering keeps that heavy hardware from wearing too much on the components. The van has a ridiculous 15.75 inches of wheel travel from the 4-link suspension.

Of course, this being a van, its primary purpose is schlepping people. To help with that, the rear seats are mounted on custom swiveling bases. LED flat screens in the rear, mounts for notebook computers, and an upgraded JBL Audio 2500-watt stereo system keep passengers entertained. Satellite TV and a night-vision camera complete the audiovisual upgrades.

All in all, the Sienna UUV is one enviable piece of machinery. We’re jealous of the Ever-Better Expedition team that gets to drive it around the country in advance of the UUV’s reveal at the 2015 Specialty Equipment Market Association Show in November. Until then, we’ll just have to gaze from afar at this awesome minivan monster truck.